COUNT RUMFORD'S COOKING-STOVES. 321 



further notice of it; especially as it cannot be made and 

 sold as a separate portable article. 



An ironmonger or stove-maker who should go to the 

 expense of exhibiting Rumford's simple structure of fire- 

 bricks and a few bars, described in the last chapter, would 

 be superseding himself by teaching his customers how they 

 may advantageously do without him. 



The same remarks apply to his stoves for cooking pur- 

 poses. They are not iron boxes like our modern kitcheners, 

 but are brick structures, matters of masonry in all but cer- 

 tain adjuncts, such as bars, fire-doors,- covers, oven-boxes, 

 etc., which are very simple and inexpensive. Even some of 

 Rumford's kitchen utensils, such as the steamers, were 

 cheaply covered with wood, because it is a bad conductor, 

 and therefore wastes less heat than an iron saucepan lid. 



Rumford was' no mere theorist, although he contributed 

 largely to pure science. His greatest scientific discoveries 

 were made in the course of his persevering efforts to solve 

 practical problems. I must not be tempted from my imme- 

 diate subject by citing any examples of these, but may tell 

 a fragment of the story of his work so far as it bears upon 

 the subject of cooking-ranges. 



He began life as a poor schoolmaster in ]S"ew Hamp- 

 shire, when it was a British colony. He next became a 

 soldier; then a diplomatist; then in strange adventurous 

 fashion he traveled on the Continent of Europe, entered 

 the Bavarian service and began his searching reform of the 

 Bavarian army by improving the feeding and the clothing 

 of the men. He became a practical working cook in order 

 that they should be supplied with good, nutritious, and 

 cheap food. 



But this was not all. He found Munich in a most de- 

 plorable condition as regards mendicity; and took in hand 

 the gigantic task of feeding, clothing, and employing the 

 overwhelming horde of paupers, doing this so effectually 

 that he made his "House of Industry" a true workhouse; 

 it paid all its own expenses, and at the end of six years left 

 a net profit of 100,000 florins. 



I mention these facts in conformation of what I said 

 above concerning his practical character. Economical 



